How Will the Blue Jays Split Up Playing Time in the Outfield Corners?

Blue Jays manager John Schneider recently made it clear that the newly-reinstated Daulton Varsho "is going to play...and he's going to play center" (per Sportsnet's Shi Davidi). Everyone expected Varsho to be the starting center fielder, but Schneider's comments suggest Varsho won't sit much to rest between a string of starts. Schneider has also said he wants Anthony Santander to get more time in the outfield. These circumstances mean the manager has some puzzle pieces to work with as he decides who will handle left and right field going forward. 

Santander, George Springer, Alan Roden, Myles Straw, Nathan Lukes, and Addison Barger alternated in the outfield while Varsho was injured. However, with Varsho returning to center field full-time and Schneider wanting more outfield reps for Santander, finding playing time for all the outfielders on the roster will be rather complicated.

Defensively, the Blue Jays are loaded with outfield talent. Straw won a Gold Glove Award in 2022 while playing center field for the Cleveland Guardians. Barger ranked in the 99th percentile in arm strength during his brief debut last season, and he also plays third base, having started 29 games at the position last season.

Santander has a .988 fielding percentage over 617 career games in the corner outfield positions with 30 assists. Springer has played 838 career games in the corner outfields (only two of those have been in left field) with 43 assists and a .989 fielding percentage. Roden and Lukes have limited experience in the corner outfield positions in the big leagues, playing less than 50 total games. Between both positions, they have a .979 and .985 fielding percentage with three and five assists, respectively. In the minor leagues, Roden, in 234 games, posted a .990 fielding percentage with 18 assists, and Lukes, in 372 games, posted a .995 fielding percentage and 29 assists.

So, how will Schneider decide his lineup?

For most of the season, the designated hitter role has belonged to Santander, with Springer also making a handful of starts. Santander and Springer will likely continue to rotate at DH to give their aging bodies a break, but Varsho and catcher Alejandro Kirk may also get time in the role for a rest day here and there. Between Santander and Springer, whoever isn't DH on a given day is likely to handle right field due to the lack of left field experience, Barger's starting status could force Schneider's hand. Springer only has one start in left field in his career (Santander has 79), but they may see more time there when Barger starts to take advantage of his strong arm in right field.

If Barger doesn't get the start, you will see Roden, Straw, or Lukes in left field. Managers usually like right-handed hitters versus left-handed pitchers and vice versa. So, since Straw is the only right-handed hitter, he will likely handle left field against lefties. Against righties, Roden had been getting the starts, but he is mired in an 0-25 slump, leading to him only starting one game of two versus a righty after Varsho's return, though that start was due to Springer having a day off, leaving an opening in the lineup.

I was surprised that one of Roden, Barger, or Lukes wasn't sent down after Varsho was added to the 26-man roster. Roden seemed the obvious choice to be demoted because of his struggles at the plate, hitting .181 with a .520 OPS, and 52 wRC+. The 25-year-old has made the majority of the starts in left to start the season, but Lukes has brought his OPS up to .707 to go along with a 109 wRC+, and he's seen more playing time recently, getting hits in four of his last five starts. Barger offers key versatility being able to play third base. With Roden's struggles, Schneider started Barger in the previous two games against righties after Varsho returned. One of those starts was at third.

Will Wagner seems more useful to the club in a vacuum with the ability to play first, second, and third base. If he gets hot in the minor leagues or any injury to the infield happens, it'll be interesting to see how Schneider decides to play the corner outfield spots. However, if Roden continues to struggle, he may find himself the odd man out as he tries to right the ship in Triple-A.